Progress ‘will be rapid’

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 25

Progress ‘will be rapid’

Ashburton reporter

Three persons spoke to the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation conference in Ashburton this week on computers and new technology, and all agreed that when New Zealand did move into those areas the progress would be rapid. Mr C. A. Carran, general manager of Honeywell New Zealand, Ltd, said the computer industry was aiming at meeting the highest standards and efficiency. It offered stability and a wide range of products aimed at specialist markets. He displayed one micro chip that could cope with 15,000 transistors. It was 5 mm square and it had cost $25 million to produce.

Dr C. R. Boswell, director of computing services at Victoria University, cited the small percentage of people involved in agriculture to illustrate the impact he saw modern technology having on service industries.

Modern society was com-puter-aware, he said, but the computer industry was still very young. Four people at the conference already had computers in their homes, and he predicted a substantial growth in that area.

It had been made possible by refinements and the introduction of micro computers. With so much development and research coupled with competition, machines were being improved and prices held to relatively low levels.

He felt the trend to home computers would soon be followed by more extensive use of computers in retailing. The smaller retailer could become involved and he foresaw even the corner dairy using them. Some firms had found it beneficial to set up terminals in customers’ businesses. They saved on costs and ensured that the customer received benefits through selection processes.

Videotex and teletext were already used extensively overseas and he saw them having strong futures here too. A building society in Britain connected customers to its system and opened up the possibility of their paying bills and making other financial transactions without having to leave home.

Mr B. I. Purdy, chief executive of the federation, then reported on a recent trip he had undertaken on its behalf. The federation had been working through a sub-committee on computers and technology for about two years and it became aware banks were sending a deputation overseas.

It mounted a similar exercise in liaison with other computer interests and he felt the trip would usefully serve future seminars on the subject. There was evidence of some consumer resistance

to some developments, he said, but he predicted that when such things as electronic funds transfers hit New Zealand it would happen quickly.

Their introduction here would not be in retailer hands, but retailers had to fight for their share of any savings. Banks also required their co-opertion to implement new schemes.

Citing his own experience in Britain he said it took

less than 15 seconds for a firm to send a credit rating inquiry to America by satellite and return a clearance for his purchase on an American Express card.

In the simplest terms, he foresaw shops providing scanning of items and charging a computer with the transfer of funds from the customer to the firm. The only uncertainty was the timing, he said.